Tamper-proof package for hypodermic syringes



DAMPER-PROOF PACKAGE FOR HYPODERMIC SYRINGES Filed Oct. 22, 1962 May 19,1 64 M. GORDON ETAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS: MORRIS GORDON JOHN J.PETERSON ATTORNEY 3,133,635 TAMPER-PROOF PACKAGE FOR HYPODERMIC SYRINGESFiled Oct. 22, 1962 May 19, 1 64 M. GORDON ETAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTORS: MORRIS GORDON JOHN J. PETERSON United States Patent 3,133,635TAMPER-PRUGF PACKAGE FOR HYPODERMEC SYRHNGES Morris Gordon, Broomall,and John J. Peterson, King of Prussia, Pa, assignors to American HomeProducts Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware FiledOct. 22, 1962, Ser. No. 231,894 7 Claims. (Cl. 206-632) This inventionrelates generally to sealed containers for materials, and moreparticularly, to a tamper-proof package for a plurality of disposablehypodermic syringes.

Disposable hypodermic syringes for injecting medicaments of variouskinds have found such widespread use in the medical and relatedprofessions that it has been found useful to the ultimate user andeconomical to the supplier to package a plurality of such units in asingle container. However, the existing packages for the most part havebeen found to have several disadvantages. Thus, many are ofcomparatively costly construction. They may lend themselves to pilferageof the disposable syringes contained therein, or inadvertent breakage ofsaid syringes and particularly the comparatively fragile glass ampulesthereof, while the syringes are still in the package. They may permitremoval, contamination and/ or adulteration of the medicaments containedtherein by unauthorized persons. Some also raise problems in connectionwith storing of the packages such as when it may be advantageous tostack a plurality of them in a limited space.

With the foregoing disadvantages of the packages presently available inmind, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a package fora plurality of dis posable hypodermic syringes which package may beopened easily for removal of a single syringe as desired withoutdisturbing the packaging of the remaining syringes.

It is another object to provide a package which, when a separate closuremember for a section of the package containing a single syringe isopened to remove a syringe from said section; the latter may no longerbe closed by secure replacement of the closure member thereby toindicate to the user whether the package has previously been tamperedwith, even though a particular syringe may still be present in itsparticular section.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a package that alsohas means to indicate whether a said separate closure member for asection of the package has been tampered with even though not completelybroken to permit removal of a syringe from the package.

It is another object of this invention to provide a package of the kindreferred to which is economical to manufacture since it requires aminimum amount 'of material due to its structure and configuration.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a package of thetype described which nevertheless permits transportation and storagethereof without undue breakage thereof or of the hypodermic syringescontained therein.

It is another object of the invention to provide a package as describedwhich permits facile stacking of a plurality thereof.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present inventionwill become apparent as a result of a better understanding of the latterupon reference to the description that follows;

Generally, the tamper-proof package for sterile, disposable hypodermicsyringes, in accordance with the present invention, comprises: a bottomshell in turn comprising a bottom wall, a pair of generally erect endwalls mounted on the bottom Wall and facing each other, a pair ofgenerally erect side walls mounted on said bottom wall and facing eachother, positioning and retaining 3,133,635 Patented May 19, 1964 meanswithin the shell adapted for maintaining hypodermic syringes inside-by-side relationship along the bottom wall and substantiallyparallel thereto and to the side walls with the ends of the syringesadjacent one of said end walls and the other ends of the syringesadjacent the other end wall; and a break-01f section comprising aplurality of vertically-disposed slots in said one end wall spaced aparta predetermined distance and aligned with said positioning and retainingmeans for permitting longitudinal passing therebetween of a respectiveone of the hypodermic syringes in the package when a respectivelyadjacent portion of said one end wall between an adjacent pair of slotsis removed, a lateral slot in said bottom wall extending substantiallyparallel to said one end wall and disposed in the area of said bottomwall between said one end wall and said positioning and retaining means,a plurality of longitudinal slots in said bottom wall, each longitudinalslot forming an extension of a respective one of said vertical slots insaid one end wall and extending substantially parallel to said sidewalls, each of said longitudinal slots opening into said lateral slot todefine therewith a plurality of separate tab portions each connected tothe lower end region of an end wall portion defined between a pair ofsaid vertically disposed slots, and structural means connecting theupper end region of each of said end wall portions to said package andcomprising a weakened web portion whereby a separate one of said tabsand with it a respective end portion may be broken away from saidpackage at said weakened web portion by pulling said separate tab in adirection downwardly with respect to said bottom wall and outwardly'withrespect to said one end wall. In the preparation of the finishedpackage, after the positioning and retaining means within the bottomshell have been loaded with the hypodermic syringes being packaged, afiat cover is secured to the top edges of said side and end walls ofsaid shell.

Preferably, both the bottom shell and top cover are of plastic materialwhich, in the case of the shell, is desirably of a substantially rigidtype and in the case of the cover, is preferably of a flexible type butin certain embodiments may be substantially rigid as is the bottomshell. It is also preferred that either the shell or the cover, or both,be transparent in order to permit a visual check of the contents of thecontainer. However, transparency of either the shell or the cover isunnecessary Where one or both of the named elements of the package areprovided with cut-out portions which function as means to permit visualchecking of the contents of the package and additionally to reduce theamount of plastic necessary for fabricating the package. The cover maybe cemented or heat sealed to the base shell or adhered,

to it by other conventional means;

A better understanding of the invention will be had upon reading thedescriptions of several embodiments of the invention as illustrationsthereof now described below with reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the novelpackage of the invention, the package being shown, for purposes ofillustration, with the normally sealed cover thereof in explodedrelationship to the main bottom shell and only a single hypodermicsyringe located in .the cradles provided to position a plurality of saidsyringes;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the end of thepackage of FIG. 1 bearing the breakoff tab and end wall portions, thesection being taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1, with the shell and covershown assembled;

FIG. 3 isa cross-sectionof the main bottom shell of FIG. 1 taken on line3-3 thereof to show the configuration of the cradle that supports'thesheathed needle of the hypodermic syringes contained in the package;

FIG. 4 is a second cross-section of the main bottom shell of FIG. 1, inthis case taken on line 4 4 thereof to show the configuration of thecradle that supports the cartridge portions of the hypodermic syringescontained in the package;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention,wherein the package, as in FI 1, is shown with the normally sealed coverthereof in exploded relationship to the main botom shell thereof andonly a single hypodermic syringe is shown positioned in the package; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the end of thepackage of FIG. 5 bearing the breakoff tab and end wall portions, thesection being taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5, with the shell and covershown assembled.

With reference to the presently preferred embodiment of the inventiondisclosed in FIGS. 1-4, the package coinprises a unitary main bottomshell 2, in turn comprising a bottom wall 3 provided with comparativelylarge cutouts 4, 5, 6 and 7, and having upstanding side walls 8 and 9and end walls 16 and 11. A continuous horizontally disposed flange 12 isprovided at the top edges of side walls 8 and 9 and end walls and 11.

Mounted on a median strip 13 of the web of bottom wall 3, separatingcut-outs 5 and 6, is a vertically-disposed syringe positioning andretaining wall 14 having alternating cut-out sections 15 and webportions 16. Similarly, on strip 17 of the web of bottom wall 3, betweencut-outs 6 and 7, there is provided a second vertically-disposed syringepositioning and retaining wall 18 also having alternating cut-outsections W and web portions 20 in general alignment with those of wall14. As appears in FIG. 1, the cut-out sections 15 and web portions 16 ofwall 14 are of a configuration to retain in each of said cut-outsections 15 between a pair of adjacent web portions 16, the sheathedneedle 23 of a hypodermic syringe 24 provided with the usual ferrule 22joining the sheathed needle 23 to the cartridge 21. Each of the cut-outsections 19 between a pair of web portions 20 of the wall 18 arecontoured to retain the respective cartridge portion 21 of saidhypodermic syringe 24. Preferably bottom shell 2 is dimensionedlongitudinally and wall 14 is positioned along the length of said shellwhereby webs 16 of wall 14 retain the hypodermic syringes 24 with thedistal ends 25 of the cartridges 21 thereof substantially in abutmentwith the end wall structure 11, to be described hereinafter, and theterminal ends of sheathed needles 23 of said syringes 24 adjacent butnot in contact with end wall 10.

End wall 11' is provided with a series of vertical slots 26 located toprovide a series of separate vertical wall portions 27 respectivelypositioned adjacent the rear ends 25 of the cartridges 21 of syringes 24positioned in the package. Each of vertical wall portions 27 hasintegral therewith a. tab extension 28 in substantially the plane of theweb of bottom wall 3. Slots 26a are provided which separate adjacent tabextensions 28 and are essentially respective continuations of slots 26.As indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4, top flange 12 is of a vertical thicknesssubstantially equal to that of the thickness of sidewalls 8 and 9 (andalso end wall 10) and is joined to said three walls to form a continuousweb of substantially uniform thickness. However, in the case of wallportions 27 which form end wall 11, said portions are each separatelyattached to flange 12 by a frangible neck section 29 (FIG. 2) of greatlyreduced thickness. For the purposes referred to hereinafter, each tabextension 23 is joined to the tab extensions 28 immediately adjacentthereto by frangible connector rod portions 30 of greatly reducedcross-section.

In the fabrication of the package described above, main bottom shell 2comprising bottom wall 3 provided with cutouts 4, 5, 6 and 7 and strips13 and 17, end walls 10 and 11 including all of the structure of the taband separate portions 27 and 28, positioning and retaining wall pieces14 and 18, and peripheral flange 12 is advantageously molded from asynthetic resinous material such as polystyrene. Polymethylmethacrylate, polypropylene, phenol-formaldehyde or alkyd resins, orother thermoplastic or thermosetting compositions known in the moldingart may be used as desired. Top cover 31 may be separately stamped fromflat sheets of similar synthetic resinous materials. After thehypodermic syringes 24 are placed in their respective cradles providedby said contoured wall pieces 14 and 18, top cover 31 may be placed onflange 12 and adhered thereto by various cementing, heat-sealing, orother suitable means, and preferably by the use of a volatile plasticsolvent as is known in the art.

In the use of the package, when it is desired to obtain a single syringe24 therefrom without disturbing the packaging of the remaining syringes,the user merely inserts a finger via cut-out '7, and against the innersurface of the tab 28 adjacent the syringe 24 it is desired to removefrom the package. Thereafter, by application of finger pressuredownwardly and outwardly as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2, frangibleconnection rods 30 between said tab 23 and the tabs immediately adjacentthereto are first broken, and on continued application of pressure,frangible neck section 29 by which the associated wall portion 27 isattached to flange 12 is also broken. Thus, the entire L-shaped tab 28and wall piece 27 is removed to expose the rear end 25 of the desiredhypodermic syring 24 which may then be pulled or slid out of its cradle.Although not essential to the advantageous use of the package, it isusually found preferable to invert the same and position it with topcover 31 down on a flat surface, after which a tab 28 may be pulledupwardly, but in the same relative direction as indicated by the arrowin FIG. 2, with respect to the package as a whole.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the packagesimilarly comprises a main bottom shell 32 having a bottom wall 33provided with cut-outs 34, 35, 36 and 37, and, in this case, additionalcut-outs 34a and 3412. Similarly, shell 32 also comprises upstandingside walls 38 and 39 and end walls 40 and 41. In this construction, too,there is provided on a strip 43 of bottom wall 33, a cradle 44 havingcut-out sections 45 and web portions 46 dimensioned to receive andretain the sheathed needles 23 of the hypodermic syringes positioned inthe package. There is likewise provided on a strip 47, a second cradlesimilarly provided with cut-out sections 49 and web portions 50contoured to receive and retain the cartridge portions 21 of hypodermicsyringes 24. Similarly, cradle 44 is positioned longitudinally in shell32 with respect to end wall 41 whereby the ferrules 42 of syringes 24are abutted by webs 46 as ends 25 of the cartridges 21 abut or are inclose proximity to said end wall 41.

Also similarly, end wall 41 is provided with a series of vertical slots56 located to provide a series of separate vertical wall portions 57respectively positioned adjacent the rear ends 25 of the cartridges 21of syringes 24 positioned in the package. Each of vertical wall portions57 has integral therewith a tab extension 53 in substantially the planeof the web of bottom wall 33. Slots 56a are provided for separatingadjacent tab extensions 58, and are again essentially respectivelycontinuations of the vertical slots 56. As indicated in FIG. 6, topflange 42 is of a vertical thickness substantially equal to that of thethickness of side walls 38 and 39 as well as end walls 4t} and 41 and isjoined to said end walls to form a continuous web of substantiallyuniform thickness. As in the previously described embodiment, each tabextension 53 is joined to the tab extensions 58 immediately adjacentthereto by frangible connector rod portions 63 of greatly reducedcross-section. However, in the present embodiment, the upper ends of thevertical wall portions 57 are directly connected to the interior edge offlange 42 as indicated in FIG. 6, and not by a reduced neck section asin the case of the preferred embodiment described hereinbefore. Instead,the frangible sections of this package are provided in the top cover 61as is described hereinafter.

As is apparent from FIG. 5, in this construction cradles 44 and 48extend upwardly only for approximately half of the height of side walls38 and 39 and end walls 40 and 41, all of which terminate in flange 42.The top cover 61 is here provided as a substantially rigid piece of asuitable plastic material of a thickness substantially equal to thethickness of the web of shell 32. To conserve material and to providevisibility of the contents of the package, a plurality of cut-outs 64,65, 66 (and additional cutouts 64a, 64b, 64c, 64d and 64s) are formed inthe web of cover 61.

A median strip 43a, separating larger cut-outs 64 and 65, is positionedto be in substantial alignment with strip 43 of shell 32 when top cover61 and said shell 32 are assembled to provide the final package of thisembodiment. Mounted on strip 43a is a cradle member 44a provided withcut-out sections 45a and web portions 46a in a configurationcomplementary to that of cradle 44, whereby, in said finally assembledrelationship said cutout sections and web portion of cradles 44 and 44aco-act to retain sheathed needles 23 of syringes 24 positioned in thepackage. Similarly, on median strip 47a there is aflixed a complementarycradle 48a bearing co-acting cut-out sections 49a and web portions 50afor co-actively maintaining with the complementary structures of cradle43, the cartridges 21 of said syringes 24, in desired position.

In the present embodiment of the invention, there is provided in topcover 61, adjacent the end of said cover which overlaps that section offlange 42 that is attached to wall 41, a groove 62 in the top surface ofsaid cover. Groove 62 is of a depth to diminish the thickness of web 61at this point 63 to approximately one-half (FIG. 6). Opening into saidgroove 62 are a plurality of slots 64 completely through the Web of topcover 61. As indicated in FIG. 6, slots 64 are spaced and aligned toimmediately overlie the upper ends of slots 59 in wall 44 when thepackage is assembled.

In the fabrication of the package just described, the entire main bottomshell 32 including cradles 44 and 48 may similarly be unitarily moldedfrom a suitable plastic material, preferably styrene. Top cover 61 mayalso be unitarily molded with cradles 44a and 48a aflixed to the undersides of strips 430 and 47a respectively. Subsequent to filling ofbottom shell 32 with syringes 24 each resting with its sheathed needle23 on cradle 44 and its cartridge 21 on cradle 48, top cover 61 isapplied to top flange 42 of bottom shell 32, whereby cradles 44a and 48aare aligned with cradles 44 and 43 to co-act therewith in maintainingsyringes 24 in position in the package. Top cover 61 is aflixed to saidflange 42 by suitable adhering means known to the art, and preferablywith the use of a suitable volatile solvent.

In the use of the package just described, for dispensing a singlesyringe 24 therefrom without disturbing the remaining syringes; as inthe preferred embodiment, the user merely inserts a finger via cut-out3'7, and against the inner surface of the tab 58 adjacent the syringe 24it is desired to remove from the package. As before, by

application of finger pressure downwardly and outwardly, as indicated bythe arrow in FIG. 6, frangible connector rods 60 between said tab 58 andthe tabs 58 immediately adjacent thereto are first broken. On continuedapplication of pressure, in this case, top cover 61 breaks off alongpart of groove 62 between an adjacent pair of slots 64 at reducedthickness 63 and also longitudinally from the edges 65 of said adjacentpair of slots 64, to the extreme outer edge 66 of top cover 61, and atthe same time flange 42 is severed adjacent its weakened area 67 (FIG.5) formed by upper slot portions 59 of vertical slots 57. 1

As stated previously, the packages of this invention may be made fromany suitable plastic material. How ever, a particularly suitablematerial for the main bottom shells and the cradles attached thereto ineither embodiment has been found to be styrene. In the embodimentdisclosed in FIGS. 1-4, however, the top cover 31 is suitably formed ofa much thinner web of said styrene, and in the case of the embodimentdisclosed in FIGS. 5 and 6, top cover 61 (of thickness equal to that ofthe main shell) 'is also preferably made of styrene.

In a package constructed in accordance with the invention and having theover all dimensions of about 4" x 2.25 x 0.4", a suitable thickness forthe web of bottom shell 2 may be .04". This includes bottom wall 3, sidewalls 3 and 9, end wall 10, flange 12, end wall portions 27 and tabportions 28. The longitudinal and lateral dimensions of tab portions 28may, in such case, be approximately .32 x .38. With the connection necks29 of approyimately 0.01" thickness and the connector rods 30 suitablyhaving a cross-sectional thickness of .015", the package has been foundto be desirably durable under normal usage, but still to require noundue force properly applied in the direction of the arrow to causebreaking of said connector rods and connecting necks.

In the case of the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, the dimensions andthicknesses of the webs of main shell 32 and top cover 61 may be similarto those referred to above, as may be the respective end wall portions,tab sections and connector rods. However, in this case, with webportions 63 in top cover 61 of 0.01" thickness, this package, too, hasbeen found to be exceptionally durable under reasonable conditions ofuse, but still to be frac turable along the slots and weakened portionsfor removal of syringes as described, with the application of noinordinate pressures.

In the event an attempt is made by an unauthorized person to pry a tabportion from its normal position for the purpose of tampering with therear end of the cartridge of a hypodermic syringe, the connector rodsattached to said tab portion will be broken even though the package hasnot been fully opened. Thus, the severed connection rods then functionto alert the authorized user to the possibility of pilferage,contamination, etc.

It will be obvious that the novel constructions of the present inventionpermit the production of packages of generally flat substantiallyparallelopied configuration, which consequently lends itself tosymmetrical stacking in the multiple packaging thereof in largercontainers for the usual commercial purposes such as transportation andstorage or to stacking on the shelves of the ultimate user prior to use.

While several specific embodiments of the invention have been describedabove, it will be understood that such embodiments are intended to beillustrative only. It is to be further understood that all modificationsof said embodiments, or variations therefrom, which conform to thespirit of the invention, as defined in the claims appended hereto, areintended to be included in the scope thereof.

We claim:

1. A tamper-proof package containing disposable hypodermic syringes,said package comprising:

(A) a bottom shell comprising:

(1) a bottom wall,

(2) a pair of generally erect end walls mounted on said bottom wall andfacing each other,

(3) a pair of generally erect side walls mounted on said bottom wall andfacing each other, and

(4) said end wall and said side walls terminating in a common peripheraledge;

(B) a cover attached to said edge of said bottom shell and enclosingsaid hypodermic syringes within said shell;

(C) a plurality of hypodermic syringes contained in said bottom shell,each syringe comprising:

(1) a liquid-filled cartridge, and

(2) a cannula-sheathed needle attached thereto;

(D) positioning and retaining means within said shell for maintaininghypodermic syringes in side-by-side relationship along said bottom walland substantially parallel thereto and to said side walls with the endsof said syringes adjacent one of said end walls and the other ends ofsaid syringes adjacent the other of said end walls; and

(E) a break-off section at one end of said package,

said break-off section comprising:

(1) a plurality of vertically-disposed slots in said one end wall spacedapart a predetermined distance and aligned with said positioning andretaining means for permitting longitudinal passing therebetween of arespective one of said hypodermic syringes in the package when arespectively adjacent portion of said one end wall between an adjacentpair of slots is removed,

(2) a lateral slot in said bottom wall extending substantially parallelto said one end wall and disposed in the area of said bottom Wallbetween said one end wall and said positioning and retaining means,

(3) a plurality of longitudinal slots in said bottom wall, eachlongitudinal slot forming an extension of a respective one of saidvertical slots in said one end wall and extending substantially parallelto said side walls, each of said longitudinal slots opening into saidlateral slot to define therewith a plurality of separate tab portionseach connected to the lower end region of an end wall portion definedbetween a pair of said vertically disposed slots,

(4) frangible connector means connecting each of said tab portions withan adjacent tab portion, and

(5) structural means connecting the upper end region of each of said endwall portions to said package and comprising a weakened web portionlocated in the region of the upper end portions of each of said end wallportions, whereby a separate one of said tab portions, and with it arespective end portion, may be broken away from said package at saidweakened web portion by pulling said separate tab portion in a directiondownwardly with respect to said bottom wall and outwardly with respectto said one end wall.

2. A tamper-proof package containing disposable hypodermic syringes,said package comprising:

(A) a bottom shell, said shell comprising:

(1) a bottom wall,

(2) a pair of generally erect end walls mounted on said bottom wall andfacing each other,

(3) a pair of generally erect side walls mounted on said bottom wall andfacing each other,

(4) a lateral flange connected to the upper ends of said end walls andsaid side walls;

(B) a plurality of hypodermic syringes contained in said bottom shell,each syringe comprising:

(1) a liquid-filled cartridge, and V (2) a cannula-sheathed needleattached thereto;

(C) a top cover attached to said flange on said bottom shell andenclosing said hypodermic syringes within said shell;

(D) positioning and retaining means within said shell, said positioningand retaining means maintaining said hypodermic syringes in side-by-siderelationship along said bottom wall and substantially parallel theretoand to said side walls, with the ends of said liquid-filled cartridgesadjacent one of said end walls and the ends of said cannula-sheathedneedles adjacent the other of said end walls; and

(E) a break-oif section at one end of said package,

said break-off section comprising:

(i) a plurality of vertically disposed materialweakening slots in saidone end wall spaced apart a predetermined distance and aligned with saidpositioning and retaining means permitting longitudinal passingtherebetween of a respective one of said hypodermic syringes in saidpackage when a respectively adjacent portion of said one end wallbetween an adjacent pair of slots is removed,

(2) a lateral slot in said bottom Wall extending substantially parallelto said one end wall and disposed in the area of said bottom wallbetween said one end wall and said positioning and retaining means,

( 3) a plurality of lonigtudinal slots in said bottom wall, eachlongitudinal slot forming an extension of a respective one of saidvertical slots in said one end Wall and extending substantially parallelto said side Walls, each of said longitudinal slots opening into saidlateral slot to define therewith a plurality of separate tab portionsconnected to the lower end region of an end wall portion defined betweena pair of said vertically disposed slots, and

(4) structural means connecting the upper end region of each of said endwall portions to said package and comprising a weakened web portionwhereby a separate one of said tab portions, and with it a respectiveend portion may be broken away from said package at said weakened webportion by pulling said separate tab portion in a direction downwardlywith respect to said bottom wall and outwardly with respect to said oneend wall.

3. A tamper-proof package containing disposable hypodermic syringes asclaimed in claim 2 wherein said tab portions are connected by frangibleconnector means.

4. tamper-proof package containing disposable hypodernnc syringes asclaimed in claim 2 wherein said weakened web portions are located at theupper end portions of each of said end wall portions and connect saidend wall portions to said flange.

5. A tamper-proof package containing disposable hypodermic syringes asclaimed in claim 2 wherein said weakened web portions are located at theedge of said top cover adjacent said one end wall.

6. A tarnper-proof package containing disposable hypodermic syringes,said package comprising:

(A) a unitary plastic bottom shell, said shell comprisng a web ofsubstantially uniform thickness formmg (1) an apertured bottom wall,

(2) a pair of generally erect end walls extending from said bottom walland facing each other,

(3) a pair of generally erect side walls extending from said bottom walland facing each other,

(4) a continuous lateral fiange extending from the upper ends of saidend walls and said side walls;

(B) a plurality of hypodermic syringes contained in said bottom shell,each syringe comprising:

(1) a liquid-filled cartridge, and

(2) a cannula-sheathed needle attached thereto;

(C) a top cover attached to said flange on said bottom shell andenclosing said hypodermic syringes within said shell;

(D) positioning and retaining means within said shell, said positioningand retaining means comprising 1) a first cradle mounted in said bottomwall and having cut-out portions and web portions contoured to receivesaid cannula-sheathed needles of said hypodermic syringes, and

(2) a second cradle mounted in said bottom wall and having cut-outsections and web portions contoured to receive said liquid-filledcartridges of said hypodermic syringes; said first and secnd cradlesbeing positioned and said cut-out sections and web portions beingcontoured and located to maintain said hypodermic syringes inside-by-side relationship along said bottom wall and substantiallyparallel thereto and to said side walls, with the ends of saidliquid-filled cartridges adjacent one of said end walls and the ends ofsaid cannula-sheathed needles adjacent the other of said end walls; and

(E) a break-off section at one end of said package,

said break-off section comprising:

(1) a plurality of vertically disposed slots in said one end wall spacedapart a predetermined distance and aligned with said cut-out sectionsand portions of said positioning and retaining means for permittinglongitudinal passing therebetween of a respective one of said hypodermicsyringes in said package when a respectively adjacent portion of saidone end wall between an adjacent pair of slots is removed,

(2) a lateral slot in said bottom wall extending substantially parallelto said one end wall and disposed in the area of said bottom wallbetween said one end wall and said second'cradle of said positioning andretaining means,

(3) a plurality of longitudinal slots in said bottom wall, eachlongitudinal slot forming an extension of a respective one of saidvertical slots in said one end wall and extending substantially parallelto said side walls, each of said longitudinal slots opening into saidlateral slot to define therewith a plurality of separate tab portionseach connected to the lower end region of an end wall portion definedbetween a pair of said vertically disposed slots, and

(4) a web portion of substantially thinner and hence weakened frangiblecross-section connecting the upper end region of each of said end wallportions to said flangewhereby a separate one of said tab portions, andwith it a respective end portion, may be broken away from said flange atsaid weakened web portion by pulling said separate tab portion in adirection downwardly with respect to said bottom wall and outwardly withrespect to said one end wall.

7. A tamper-proof package containing disposable hypodermic syringes,said package comprising:

(A) a unitary plastic shell, said shell comprising a web ofsubstantially uniform thickness forming (1) an apertured bottom wall,

(2) a pair of generally erect end walls extending from said bottom walland facing each other,

(3) a pair of generally erect side walls extending from said bottom walland facing each other,

(4) a continuous lateral flange connected to the upper ends of said endwalls and said side walls;

(B) a plurality of hypodermic syringes contained in said bottom shell,each syringe comprising:

(1) a liquid-filled cartridge, and.

(2) a cannula-sheathed needle attached thereto;

(C) an apertured top cover attached to said flange on said bottom shelland enclosing said hypodermic syringes within said shell;

(D) positioning and retaining means within said shell,

said positioning and retaining means comprising:

(1) a first cradle mounted in said bottom wall and having cut-outsections and web portions contoured to receive said cannula-sheathedneedles of said hypodermic syringes,

(2) a second cradle mounted in said bottom shell and having cut-outsections and web portions contoured to receive said liquid-filledcartridges of said hypodermic syringes,

(3) a third cradle mounted on the interior surface of said top cover andhaving cut-out sections and web portions contoured to receive saidcannula-sheathed needles of said hypodermic syringes, and

(4) a fourth cradle mounted on the interior surface of said top coverand having cut-out sections and web portions contoured to receive saidliquid-filled cartridges of said hypodermic syringes;

said first, second, third and fourth cradles being positioned and saidcut-out sections and web portions being contoured and located tomaintain said hypodermic syringes in side-by-side relationship alongsaid bottom wall and substantially parallel thereto and to said sidewalls, with the ends of said liquid-filled cartridges adjacent one ofsaid end walls and the ends of said cannulasbeathed needles adjacent theother of said end walls; and (E) a break-off section at one end of saidpackage,

said break-oil section comprising:

(1) a plurality of vertically disposed slots in said one end wall spacedapart a predetermined distance and aligned with said cut-out sectionsand said web portions, said positioning and retaining means forpermitting longitudinal passing therebetween of a respective one of saidhypodermic syringes in said package when a respectively adjacent portionof said one end wall between an adjacent pair of slots is removed,

(2) a lateral slot in said bottom wall extending substantially parallelto said one end wall and disposed in the area of said bottom wallbetween said one end wall and said second cradle of said positioning andretaining means,

(3) a plurality of longitudinal slots in said bottom wall, eachlongitudinal slot forming an extension of a respective one of saidvertical slots in said one end wall and extending substantially parallelto said side walls, each of said longitudinal slots opening into saidlateral slot to define therewith a plurality of separate tab portionseach connected to the lower end region of an end wall portion definedbetween a pair of said vertically disposed slots, and

(4) a web portion of substantially thinner and hence weakened frangiblecross-section extending laterally of said top cover at the end thereofsealed to the flange portion connected to the upper end region of eachof said end wall portions, and a plurality of slots in said top coverextending from said substantially thinner web portion towards saidlast-named end of said cover, said slots being respectively in alignmentwith one of said vertical slots, whereby a separate one of said tabportions, and with it a respective end portion, flange portion and topcover portion may be broken away from said top cover at said weakenedweb portion and an adjacent pair of Slots by pulling said separate tabportion in a direction downwardly with respect to said bottom wall andoutwardly with respect to said one wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,982,112 Lang Nov. 27, 1934 2,812,057 Brownfield Nov. 5, 1957 2,856,067Sparks Oct. 14, 1958 2,880,865 Knox Apr. 7, 1959 2,955,705 Krueger eta1. Oct. 11, 1960 3,032,186 Jenkins May 1, 1962

7. A TAMPER-PROOF PACKAGE CONTAINING DISPOSABLE HYPODERMIC SYRINGES,SAID PACKAGE COMPRISING: (A) A UNITARY PLASTIC SHELL, SAID SHELLCOMPRISING A WEB OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM THICKNESS FORMING (1) ANAPERTURED BOTTOM WALL, (2) A PAIR OF GENERALLY ERECT END WALLS EXTENDINGFROM SAID BOTTOM WALL AND FACING EACH OTHER, (3) A PAIR OF GENERALLYERECT SIDE WALLS EXTENDING FROM SAID BOTTOM WALL AND FACING EACH OTHER,(4) A CONTINUOUS LATERAL FLANGE CONNECTED TO THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID ENDWALLS AND SAID SIDE WALLS; (B) A PLURALITY OF HYPODERMIC SYRINGESCONTAINED IN SAID BOTTOM SHELL, EACH SYRINGE COMPRISING: (1) ALIQUID-FILLED CARTRIDGE, AND (2) A CANNULA-SHEATHED NEEDLE ATTACHEDTHERETO; (C) AN APERTURED TOP COVER ATTACHED TO SAID FLANGE ON SAIDBOTTOM SHELL AND ENCLOSING SAID HYPODERMIC SYRINGES WITHIN SAID SHELL;(D) POSITIONING AND RETAINING MEANS WITHIN SAID SHELL, SAID POSITIONINGAND RETAINING MEANS COMPRISING: (1) A FIRST CRADLE MOUNTED IN SAIDBOTTOM WALL AND HAVING CUT-OUT SECTIONS AND WEB PORTIONS CONTOURED TORECEIVE SAID CANNULA-SHEATHED NEEDLES OF SAID HYPODERMIC SYRINGES, (2) ASECOND CRADLE MOUNTED IN SAID BOTTOM SHELL AND HAVING CUT-OUT SECTIONSAND WEB PORTIONS CONTOURED TO RECEIVE SAID LIQUID-FILLED CARTRIDGES OFSAID HYPODERMIC SYRINGES, (3) A THIRD CRADLE MOUNTED ON THE INTERIORSURFACE OF SAID TOP COVER AND HAVING CUT-OUT SECTIONS AND WEB PORTIONSCONTOURED TO RECEIVE SAID CANNULA-SHEATHED NEEDLES OF SAID HYPODERMICSYRINGES, AND